Rights Group Commends Akwa Ibom’s ₦31bn Grant For SMEs

The Center for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN) has lauded the Akwa Ibom government for the N31 billion grant for Small and Micro Enterprises (SMEs).

LEADERSHIP recalls that Governor Umo Eno, had during the July State Executive Council (SEC) meeting at the EXCO Chambers of Government House, Uyo, approved the cash as business lifeline for no fewer than 165,912 SME owners across the 31 local government areas.

And the CHRAN expressed fears that the empowerment grant could be politicized and hijacked by politicians and friends, and called on the those saddled with the disbursement to imbibe equity, transparency, fairness and good conscience in the sharing formula.

Speaking a communque signed by the executive director, Otuekong Franklin Isong and Etimbuk Ekpenyong, the Secretary, Research and Documentation, the rights group, expressed delight and commended the Governor for the gesture, but stressed the need for proper guidance in the cash distribution process.

“The CHRAN has taken note of the recent approval by the Akwa Ibom State Executive Council of the sum of ₦31 billion for the implementation of economic empowerment programmes targeting youths, women, traders, farmers, transport operators, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across the 31 LGAs at ₦1 billion each.

“We acknowledge that the programme, comprising youth skills acquisition and starter packs, women cooperative business support, traders’ business grants, agricultural support and farm inputs, SME development, and a transport empowerment scheme, is a potentially impactful intervention capable of promoting entrepreneurship, reducing poverty, and driving inclusive economic development for an estimated 165,912 beneficiaries across the State.

“However, CHRAN wishes to state unequivocally, and place on record, that this intervention is funded with public funds belonging to the people of Akwa Ibom State. As such, its implementation should be guided strictly by the principles of transparency, fairness, equity, and accountability, devoid of any partisan considerations,” the communique stated.

Therefore, the CSO warned that “the programme must not, under any guise, be used as an instrument for rewarding party loyalists, settling political scores, or consolidating political patronage networks,” maintaining that “access to the benefits of this intervention must not be conditioned on party membership, political affiliation, or loyalty to any individual or group.”

The organisation, however, advocated that the state government, through the committee headed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prince Enobong Uwah, “must publish clear, objective, and verifiable criteria for the selection of beneficiaries,” stressing that “Akwa Ibom citizens have the right to know how beneficiaries will be identified, screened, and selected across the 31 local government areas.”

To ensure transparency and accountability, CHRAN, therefore, demanded the state government should expand the composition of the Committee to include credible representatives of CSOs., adding that “the inclusion of independent civil society voices will enhance public confidence in the process and provide an additional layer of oversight to guard against abuse of this taxpayers resources.”

“The list of beneficiaries, disaggregated by local government area and category of support, should be made publicly available upon completion of the selection process.

“CHRAN recognises the potential of this programme to genuinely transform livelihoods across Akwa Ibom State, particularly given the scale of investment and the number of intended beneficiaries. It is precisely because of this potential that we insist that the process must be beyond reproach.

“CHRAN wishes to place on record that similar interventions currently under Akwa Ibom Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (AK-CARES ), an Akwa Ibom State Government implementation of the federal NG-CARES (Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus) programme, designed primarily to support poor and vulnerable households, small businesses, farmers and communities affected by economic shocks during the COVID-19 pandemic which has received over N4 billion of taxpayers money since inception is currently shrouded in secrecy, lacks transparency and accountability.

“CHRAN will continue to monitor the implementation of this intervention and will not hesitate to speak out should there be any indication that public funds meant for economic empowerment are being diverted for partisan or personal gain,” the communique maintained.